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Wheeling Central defeats Oak Glen

WHEELING – After watching Oak Glen take a one-run lead in its half of the second inning Monday, veteran Wheeling Central coach Rick Magruder asked his player to step it up a notch.

They listened.

The Maroon Knights went on to plate four runs in their half of the second en route to a 12-2 four-inning decision of Oak Glen at Ben’s Field at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Youth Sports Complex.

“We just try to keep the pressure on,” said Magruder, who watched his team improved to 11-2.

“We just needed to hit. I didn’t realize we had 12 runs.”

The talented Maroon Knights tend to make it look east at times. After scoring five times through two innings, Central tacked on one in the third, before putting the game away with six in the fourth.

“We have a lot of players who know what they have to do,” Magruder said. “I think they push each other.”

With pitcher/shortstop Logan Andrews out of the lineup, the Maroon Knights took advantage.

“When we stepped off the bus I was a little concerned how they would play with (Andrews),” Oak Glen coach Michelle McHaffie said. “But I was happy with how we played in the early innings. Now, we just have to get over the hump.”

Jordan Cunningham and Mikayla Crane doubled and singled, respectively, in the second. They later crossed the plate to give the Golden Bears (4-7) the early lead.

“I was pleased with the fact it was 6-2 and we were right in the game,” McHaffie said. “But then (Wheeling Central) started hitting and that’s what great teams do.”

Oak Glen, meanwhile, was unable to generate anymore offense thanks to Wheeling Central starter Sarah Henry. Henry struck out four and walked one.

All nine players stepped to the plat in the deciding fourth for the Maroon Knights.

A sacrifice fly by Allie Cook started the scoring barrage. Ashley Gast and Henry added RBIs during the inning, as did Ciara Saseen.

Wheeling Central 12, Oak Glen 2

Oak Glen 020 0 – 2 5 1

Wheeling Central 141 5 – 12 11 1

OAK GLEN: Cunningham (LP, 1K, 3BB) and Crane. Cunningham D, S.

WHEELING CENTRAL: Henry (WP, 4K, 0BB) and Visnick. Zavolta S, 2rbi; Stahl D, rbi; Cook HR, 2rbi; Gast 2D, rbi; Henry D, 2rbi; Saseeb D, S, 2rbi; Visnick 2S, rbi.

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